Process and apparatus for manufacture of screw caps



March 7, 1933. E, B, KRAMER 1.900.880

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF SCREW CAPS Original Filed July 22. 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet l ahnung# March 7, 1933. E. s. KRAMER PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF SCREW CAIS Original Filed July 22, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 7, 1933. E. B. KRAMER 1,900,880

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUEACTURE OF SCREW CAPS Original Filed July 22. 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Maa gmc/nto@ March 7, 1933. E. a. KRAMER 1.900,88()

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE 0F SCREW CAPS Original Filed July 22, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 62 D F I 1* 1| Icy l O .17 :1an m o o o e@ 172/ l 57 7 ,71,74 Z gwwmto arrow,

March 7, 1933. E, B, KRAMER 1.900.880

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFAGTURE OF SCREW CAPS Original Filed July 22, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sz Maa.

March 7, 1933. E` E, KRAMER 1,900,880

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE 0F SCREW CAPS Original Filed July 22, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 gnwnkw WWW'EMQ www Patented Mar. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERIC B. KRAMER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOB TO CROWN CORK SEAL COM- PANY, INC.l OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK PBDCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF SCREW CAPS Application led July 22, 1931, Serial No. 552,493. Renewed December 22, 1932.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming screw caps to produce a product having novel features constituting a marked departure from the conventional article.

The primary object of the invention is to produce a screw cap which will have no thin or weakened areas such as would induce cracking of the material or marring of the finish while producing screw caps. An important object of the invention is to provide a process and apparatus for producing the novel screw cap of my allowed copending application, Serial No. 552,494, filed 'July 22, 1931.

A further object of the invention is to produce an article of this class in which the thread is formed in the cap, by what is, in eifect, a folding of the metal as distinguished from present methods and machines which distend the metal and stretch and weaken the material.

A further object of the invention is to produce a cap having a thread provided with a shelf which sharply approaches a plane substantally horizontal or perpendicular to the axis of the cap, that is a thread which will hook under the ledge of the conventional glass thread in such manner as to obtain a very high sealing force and a minimum of outward Wedging pressure.

With'this in mind, it is an added object of the invention to produce a cap having a deep thread which, in effect, is provided with a shelf having a substantially horizontal portion hook, and where'n this is accomplished by feeding an oversize blank to the machine of this invention and shrinking the blank While folding the metal of the thread Without distending the blank material, so that the thickness of the metal of the skirt and thread are of uniform thickness and free of any weakened areas.

A very important object of the invention is to produce the completed cap having a thread and a curled or wired edge, and also preferably a knurl, by a single operation, i. e. continuously acting on the cap in Successive steps. In the present invention, the blank which is cupped, i. e. provided with a depending skirt and preferably with a flange at the edge of the skirt, is fed into the apparatus and the operations are completed by bodily moving the blank, at the same time giving it a rotational movement in contact with the various working tools. When the completed cap is at the end of its bodily movement, it is removed and inverted automatically to a position where a liner may be inserted;

hence the complete cap is' produced auto-1 matically from the cupped or' hat-shaped blank, in its passage through the machine until it reaches a point Where it is disposed in inverted position to receive a liner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for automatically producing a cap wherein the blanks are supplied to the machine automatically and selectively and carried through a series of automatic operations to obtain the finished cap.

A further object of the invention is to automatically produce and feed the cap blanks to the machine Where the blank is automatically completed into a cap, so that the ste of forming the blank from the raw material: its feed to the machine and formation into a completed article, the interpositioning of the required liner in the completed cap and its placing in a packaging receptacle, will constitute one continuous automatic operation entirely avoiding manual effort.

A further object of the invention is to provide .a process and apparatus wherein the blank is successively worked u on to produce first the wired edge and tiereafter is simultaneously Worked upon to produce both a knurling of the cap and the thread.

It is an important object of this invention that bending and folding of nthe thread is acccomplished by permitting a free shrinkage of the material. eliminating in this manner the objectionable stretching of the prevailin method. The free shrinkage is accomplishe by forming the entire thread progressively and in a direction from the top of the cap toward the free edge of the skirt, as distinguished from forming simultaneously several portions of the thread. In this manner the skirt of the blank is bent or folded progressivel along the line of helix while the rest of t e skirt is not clamped, but is permitted to shrink or shorten in accordance with the stresses set up in the bending operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved process for removing a completed cap from the machine which will be entirely automatic in its operation and which will act at a proper time to remove each cap and dispose it in position to be automatically transferred to a liner inserting machlne.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a process, whereby the completed cap is transferred to a liner inserting machine with its open end disposed in position to receive a liner.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing in detail the carriage mechanism. d Figure 4 is a view of the thread forming Figure 5 is a top view of mechanism for removing the completed cap.

Figure 6 is an elevational View of the removing mechanism.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of means associated with the removing mechanism for supporting the cap.

Figure 8 is a further elevational view of the machine.

Figure 9 is a detail view in section of the means for feeding the cap to the machine.

Figure 10 is a view in section showing the cap during the formation of the wired edge.

Figure 11 is a sectional view of the cap durin the formation of the knurl and the threa Figure 12 is a view partly in section of the completed cap, showin in broken lines tlm length of the original s ell or cap blank a: d in full lines the completed article to indicate the shrinkage of the shell, and

Figure 13 is a view of the cam'device for assisting in shrinking the skirt during the threading operation.

ReferringY to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a support upon which the machine is mounted. Secured to the support, as shown in Figure 3, is a supporting frame or base 11 which is ri idly held against turning by means of the lolt 13 and suitable dowels 14.

The supporting frame 11 has pressed on its periphery or remote from its center which is located substantially at the bolt 13, a suitable bushing or liner 15 of substantially L- shaped construction which is referably circular to form a bearing. The supporting frame also carries fixed thereto by means of bolts 16, a circular gear 17 for a purpose which will be presently described.

Rotatably mounted upon the supporting frame about the bushing 15 is a circular carriage 18 and the housing for the cariage 18 is completed by a rin 19 bolted to the supporting frame at 20. he radially inner surace o the ring-like carriage is mounted directly upon the bushing 15 so that the periphery of the base 11 provides a large bearl they provide a substantially closed or housed y bearing for the carriage. The carriage 18, as stated, is adapted for rotation about the peripherally disposed bushingI 15 on the fixed support 10 and carries in bearings spaced circumferentially thereof and disposed relatively close to t e carriage bearing as compared to the center of the base, the latter being located at the bolt 13, a plurality of s aced mandrels indicated as a whole at 21.

hese mandrels are adapted for rotation on axes substantially paralleling the upstanding or eripheral bearing surface provided by the Bushing 15 (Fig. 3) and are formed to cooperate with fixed dies indicated as a whole at 22 carried by the ring 19. The ring or carriage 18 is therefore mounted on the support 10 and more particularly on a peripheral or u standing surface of the suport 10. This ,surface provides a bearing isposed substantiall parallel to the axes of the mandrels. The ange 11' and the superimposed flange of the L-shaped bushing 15 thereon serve to resist lateral or downward movement of the carriage and complement the main peripheral bearing surface.

Each mandrel 21 is mounted on a stem or shaft 23 which is preferably split as at 24 and adapted to rotate in ball bearing mountings in the carriage 18. It will beobserved that the bearings for the mandrel shafts 23 are relatively close to the carriage bearing; in other words, the bearing for the carriage is substantially closer to the mandrel bearings than to the center of the base 11, thereby effectively resisting any tendency toward disali nment of the parts. The relatively large aring surface afforded by the periphery of the base 11, disposed remote from the center of the base, reduces wear from friction to a minimum, since the total load per square inch upon the bearing is proportionately reduced as the area of the bearing 1s increased. The rotating carriage 18 is the principal movin part o the machine, and 1s operated to pro uce caps at the rate of four hundred (400) per minute, thereby involving between sixt and seventy (70) revolutions per mlnute of the carriage; hence the importance of disposing the bearing for the carriage in the manner described and illustrated will be readil understood. At it lower end the stem 23 as fixed thereto a gear 25 adapted to continuously mesh with the Sun gear 17 on the supporting| frame. Thus, it will be seen that as motion is imparted to the gear 18, it will act as arotating ca rriage and at the same time the mandrels will likewise be caused to follow a course of rotation. That is to say, the caps are given a bodily movement and a simultaneous rotational movement.

Referring to Figures 2, 8 and 9, the numeral 26 indicates a gravity feed mechanism for the cap blanks which is connected ywith the blank forming machine, so that as the blanks are stamped, they are automatically deposited for carriage to the capl forming machine. The gravity) feed mec anism 26 comprises a chute having confining flanges 27 and communicates with a downwardly curved guideway 28 bolted to the base 19. This guideway 28 is enclosed and may be formed either integral with the chute 26 or as a separate casting connected thereto. The blanks pass by gravity into the downwardly curved enclosed guideway 28, Where they are engaged by a selective feeding means, as will now be described.

This feeding means comprises an arm 29 pivoted to an upstanding frame member 30, preferably integral with the guideway 28 and carries a roller or disc 31, which as the car` riage gear 18 is rotated engages successively the several mandrels. Pivoted upon the chute by a pivot pin 32 is a lever 33 which is connected to the arm 29 by a pivot pin 34. Pivoted upon the pin 34 is a link 35 connected by a pivot pin 36 with a lever 37, which is pivoted at 38 upon the chute.

A spring 39 normally acts upon the lever 29 to draw the same inward toward the chute and to dispose the disc 31 in the immediate path of the mandrels.

In Figure 9, the mandrel is indicated in engagement with the disc 3l and the disc has been pushed out, permitting a cap in the chute to drop upon the mandrel. When the feeding mechanism has been so pushed out or acted upon 'by a mandrel, the link 35 which is pivoted upon the arm 29 retracts the lever 37, which normally extends in the path of the chute and permits a cap which is restrained by the lever 37 to pass from the chute to the mandrel. At the same time, the

7 lever 33 which is normally out of the path of caps in the chute is caused by the movement of the arm 29 to revolve on its pivot 32 and project within the path of the caps as shown.

The purpose of this mechanism is to insure that while normall the lever 33 is retracted and the lever 37 1s projected into the path of the caps, when the lever 29 is retracted withdrawing the lever 37 from the'path of caps in the chute and permitting a cap to be expelled, the lever 33 will be moved into the path of the chute, so that only a single cap will be discharged for each actuation of the disc 31.

As will be clear from Figure 9, this feeding mechanism is disposed adjacent the mouth 40 of the downwardly curved chute or guideway, so that when the lever 37 is retracted and a cap discharged from the mouth, it will tilt downwardly and be immediately cau ht by the adjacent mandrel and positione thereon to be carried about through the forming operations. It will be understood that the cap blanks are of sutiiciently greater diameter than the diameterV of the mandrels to insure a positive catching of each cap which passes over the edge of the mouth 40 and that the construction is so timed that a cap will be released and tilted to be engaged by the mandrel which has engaged the disc 31 and released the lever or stop 37.

The guideway, as stated, is entirely enclosed, but is provided with a gate 2G', which is hinged at 27 and normally retained closed by the spring 28. This gate will permit entrance to the guideway should occasion require. It will be noted that the side wall of the guideway adjacent the mouth 40 is cut away at 40', so that as the mandrel swings in its circular path on the carriage 18, no obstacle will be presented to its movement.

It will, moreover, be noted that the lever 37 is disposed slightly in advance of the mouth 40, which as shown is curved, so that immediately upon release of the lever 37, the cap will by reason of the gravity and the pressure of caps above it, be forced a suiiicient distance out of the mouth to tilt and be caught by the mandrel which is passing beneath the mouth as described.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the forming j members 22 carried by the fixed supporting frame, specifically by the ring 19 connected thereto, are arranged in segments to accomplish the several operations necessary to form *n a completed cap.

As the hat-shaped blank is initially received by a mandrel, it is subjected to a wiring operation and while this is being conducted, the cap is retained as shown in Fig\\ ure 10 against all movement,'except that aiforded by the rotary motion of the large gear 18 and the mandrel upon which the cap 1,5

by the slightly roughened member 41 cooperating with the knurled portion 42 of the mandrel, while the projection 43 and recess 44 of the member 45 on the fixed frame cooperate with the ring 46 on the mandrel to produce,

the curl 47.

In other words, in the iirst segment, the carriage is rotating as are the mandrels and the cap is rigidly'held while the curl 47 is produced through the cooperation of the member 45 of the fixed supporting frame and the ring 46 of the rotating mandrel.

In the second segment, the curlis completed and the Wire edge formed as shown at 48 by the continued cooperation of the respective members. The first segment is indicated at 49 and the second at 50, in Figure 1.

In segment 51, the cap is simultaneously knurled, Figures 11 and.12, as shown at 52, and provided with a spiral thread 53. For accomplishing this operation the segment 51 of the fixed supporting frame carries a die 54 knurled to cooperate with the knurled portion 42 of the mandrel, and a thread forming die 55 indicated in detail in Figure 4. It will be noted that the 'thread forming ldie 55 carries a substantially diagonally arranged projection 56, which extends the entire length of the segment and is slightly greater in length than the length of the spiral thread to be formed in the cap, but is removed from the edge 57 of the se ment a distance equal to that of the wire e ge 48. In this manner no opportunity is presented for the thread forming dies to act upon the curled edge nor can these dies bind the curled ed e and prevent free shinkage of the blank s irt during the thread forming operation. Thus the ttiread is formed in the skirt above the curled e e.

'This die member 55 cooperates with the thread die 57 carried by the mandrel to produce a thread.

At this point it should be observed upon reference to Figure 11, that in the forming of the thread by reason of the cooperation of the die members 55 and 57 that the cap will not be stretched or the metal thereof distended, since the cap is not restrained from shrinkin Therefore, as the rotatin carriage an rotating mandrel traverse t e die members 54 and 55 of the segment 51, the forming of the thread causes the materal of the skirt of the cap to fold and shrink, the cap, as will be clear :from Figure 11, being freely supported to permit this result. As illustrated in Fig. 11, there is suicient clearance above the curled or wired edge to permit the latter to rise and the skirt to decrease in height in the thread-forming operation.

As will be understood, the rotational movement of the cap blanks over the thread-forming section (Fig. 4) as the carriage is revolved, causes the single diagonally disposed thread-forming track 56 to indent or press the skirt of the cap into the thread groove of the mandrel or rotating die on the carriage. Since only a single thread-formin track is provided on the segmental fixed die, the entire thread is produced progressivel and continuously by movement along the ine of helix for the desired distance, which will depend upon the length of the track 56. This track construction is distinguishable from constructions wherein a plurality of tracks are provided for simultaneously engaging several portions of the cap skirt and simultaneously forming several corresponding portions of the thread. In the operation of this mechanism, the entire thread is formed in a progressive movement beginning in a plane spaced from the edge of the cap skirt and continuin downwardly toward the capskirt, the skirt ing left free to shrink or reduce in height as the thread is formed.

By reason of the formation of the thread by a shrinking or folding action, it is possib e to produce a much deeper thread and a thread havinga shelf, sharply approaching the horizontal or a plane substantially per'- pendicular to the axis of the cap as shown in Figure 12. The deeper thread enables an extension to be produced whichin tical application of the cap to a container will engage suiiciently beneath the ledge of -a glass thread to insure a very high downward pressure or sealing value and a very low outward wedging pressure. This is true since the shelf of the cap thread will engage the ledge of the glass thread close to the wall of the container and at a oint remote from a. point on the surface of t e glass thread described by a diameter drawn through the center of curvature of the glass thread parallel to the top or bottom of the container. In other words, the improved process makes it possible to produce the novel continuousthread construction disclosed in my cepending allowed application, Serial No. 552,494, filed Julv 22, 1931. It will be understood that as the gear 18, constituting the mandrel carriage, is rotated and the respective mandrels are rotated, by means of the gear 25 engaging the Sun gear 17, that the speed of rotation will be so controlled that each mandrel will make at least one and preferably more than one complete revolution and present the entire circumference of the shell or blank to each die segment during its 'traverse past each segment. In the case of the forming of the thread, the operation is controlled to present the shell to the die for more than its circumference and the die segment is correspondingly lengthened, to provide the spiral thread.

Thus in passing the first segment the curled edge 47 will be produced, in passing the second segment the wire 48 will be completed and in passing the third segment the knurlthe pracing and threading of the cap will be accomplished.

`Referring to Figure 3, ra suitable ring 58 is j employed which is bolted to the ring'19 and the bolts 59 for'this urpose also act to confine, the respective ie members which are mounted in the ring 19.

The rin 58 covers or shields the working parts of t e fixed carriage, that is the segments 49, 50 and 51, and also acts to confine and shield the cap blank in its movement past the segments. This 'ring extends from' adjacent the mouth 40 to a point adjacent the removing mechanism. i

I have preferably indicated three working segments 49, 50 and 51 `and the distance between the feedin mouth 40 and the point 60 accommodates t e feeding and removing mechanism.

It will be understood'that all of the'segments are of substantially the same dimensions and the space between the ends of segments 49, and 51, is sutlicient to includea period of time to allow a cap to be fed to a man- 25 drel, as well as to allow a cap to be removed l therefrom, no other working operations being accomplished between the points 40 and 60.

The removn mechanism comprises, as best shown in Figures 5 and 6, a plurality of cams disposed on the base between the ends of segments 49 and 51 and `which are adapted to be engaged by a mechanism on the rotating carriage or gear- 18. A.

This mechanism comprises, as best shown in Figures 5 and.6, a pair of plungers 61 arranged upon diametrically o posite sides of the mandrel and carrying li ting .blocks '62, the latterV as shown in Figure 6, having arcuate recesses 63 to engage beneath the Wired ed e ofa completed cap on the mandrel.

t their lower ends the plungers 61 which, asstated, are mounted for reciprocation -in the rotating gear 18, are each freely connetted to a lever 64. O ne arm v65 of thelever has. an offset portion carrying a roller 66. The lever is pivoted in suitable trunnions 67 to the bottom of the traveling gear 18, as shown at 68, and has another arm 69 which is offset -beyondthe roller 66 and carries a similar roller 70.

The construction of the operating mecha- `nism for the other plunger 61 is substantially the same, except that the roller 71 is oil'set, so as to be out of alignment or out of.the path of travel of the rollers 66 'and v70 and the roller 72 is likewise offset, sol as to be out of line of travel of the rollers 66, 70 `and 71.

By mounting the levers 64 in trunnions 67, 'it will be seen that the lever epd its associated arms may rock to raise, and lower the respective plungers 61 and lifting blocks 62 and the means for rocking the levers will now be described.

Mounted on the base are a plurality of miams, the cam 66 being designated the up yposed horizonte v y wheel 78. This wh cam and the cam the down "cam. These cams, it will be noted, are out of alignment but are arran ed to receive the respective rollers66 andV 0.

With respectto the opposite lever 64, the ulp cam is designated at 71 and is out of a ignment with the cams 66 and 70 and the down cam 72 is spaced beyond the cam 71 and out of alignment with that cam, as well as cams 66 and 70. The cams 71 andv 72' are in alignment. withthe path of travel of the rollers 71 and 72 respectively.

Upon examination of Figures 5 and6, it will be observed that immediatel as the mandrel and its its associated mec anisms pass from'the segment 51 and ring 58 and reach the lifting point designated by thel position of the cams just described, the levers 64 will be rocked upward by reason of the en gement of the rollers 66 and 71 with the inc ined sides 73 of the up cams 66' and 71', so that the plungers 61 are simultaneously moved up with the arcuate recesses in the blocks 62 receiving the Wire edge of a finished cap carried by the mandre and raisin it from the mandrel and since the incline surfaces of the cams merge with substantially plane surfaces 74, the cap is held in this raised position throughout the .travel of the rollers 66 and 71 thereon. When the cap is raised in this manner, the plungers `moving with the carria e' or gear 18 pass through a slot 7 5 of a Shel? designated in Fig. 7 as a whole at 76 which is secured upon the fixed carriage 19 by bolts 7 6 This shelf is, in efect, a guideway in the form of a casting having inwardly extending spaced plates or flanges 77 integral with or bolted to the casting at the bottom thereof and extending a sutcient distance apart to permit the strip er blocks 62 to pass therebetween longitudinally of the slot 75, but of less spaced distance than the diameter of the cap. The flanges terminate ormerge into an u wardly curved throat 77 f formed on the casting and adapted to receive the caps. a

Again referring to Figure 6,- as the rollers 66 and .71 reach the limit of the plane surfaces 74, the cam rollers 70 and 72 engage respectively the downl cams 7 0 and 72', whereu n the levers 64 are rocked in the opposite direction to lower the plungers 61.. When the plungers are so lowered, the cap is left resting upon the flanges 77 of the shelf construction 76 and the plungers 61 are moved down sutliciently rapidly to insure that they will not contact with the closed end of the slot or shelf.

Cooperating With the shelf mechanism wherein the flanges 77 are lpreferably disbut whic may be made is a magnetic pick-,up l carries a plurality of electromagnets or ordinary permanent magnets of sufficient force to attract and remove inclined if desir" the ca s from the lian es 77 of the shelf 76. It wil be noted that le magnetic wheel or carrier attracts and holds the caps by the top thereof, so that as it revolves and passes the cap to a receiving chute 79, the ca s are disposed therein with their open en s upward, as shown in Figure 2.

The magnets pass su'iciently close to the shelf to assure of attracting the caps, but if for any reason a cap is not removed as fast as deposited by the stripper blocks 62, the next be cap as it moves on the shelf will push it upwardly on the throat 77' and thus closer to the magnets. The throat therefore acts as a guide, as well as means for positively insuring removal of the caps and preventing jame receiving chute 79 is substantially closed and is inclined as illustrated, and has one end beveled as at 8O and projecting suficiently close to the wheel to pick o the caps carried thereby, as will be clear from an examination of Figures 1 and 2, and at such .point that their open ends are upward.

'I'he caps upon being received in the inclined chute, pass downwardly by gravity and a selector finger 81 is disposed in the chute to pass the caps to separate channels 82 and 83. This selector finger 81 is freely. pivoted and has projections 85 and 86 `,on each side which are engaged b the caps andV alternately move the finger m one side to another, so as to direct alternate caps into the chutes 82 or 83. The chutes 82 and 83 deposit the caps with their open ends upward upon a suita le conveyor 87 from whence they are carried to a liner inserting machineY or other instrumentality. It will be noted that the transferring mechanism consisting of the shelf, wheel and chute cooperate to present the cap to the conveyor face upwards, so that itis not necessary to turn the cap'for the urpose of inserting a liner by the usual mec anism.

Associated with the magnetic pick-up roller 78 are a pair of rotating picker members 88, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, which by reason of a pulley connection 89 with the wheel 78 are caused to rotate. These picker members 88 have a plurality of radially extending i'lexible lingers 89), which extend througli'openings into the respective chutes 82 and 83. The constantly rotating fingers will engage any caps in the res ective chutes to prevent possible clogging, s ould this for any reason occur.

Any suitable primeV mover may be employed for operating the mechanism of this invention, but I propose to use an ordinary electric motor driving a shaft 90and carrying a gear 91, meshing with the gear 18.

The means for operating the wheel 78 can be connected to this shaft by suitable gearing or pulley mechanism as illustrated at 92 and, as stated, the picker membersare operated by a pulley mechanism 89 from the drive shaft of the magnetic wheel.

The chute 79 and shelf construction may take the form of an integral ,casting sup- Egrted on the base by a bracket as at 94 and lted to the ring 19 by the bolts 76. The upstanding frame member 30, to which the lever 29 is pivotally secured, is formed as an element of this casting.

Referring to Figure 11, a member 95 may mounted on the die 55 having a cam surface 96 for pushing the wired edge upwardly during the forming of the thread. This cam surface may be integral with the member 95 or may be secured thereto by screw 95 as a separate part, if desired.

t is not preferred to use such a construction, since it is, in most cases, unnecessary, but in some instances it has been found desirable to assist the shrinking or folding of the metal during the threading operation by providin such a cam structure as will act to assist t e shrinking and folding effect.

It is to be noted that the end of the cap is acted upon by the cam surface 96 while the cap `skirt is supported from within, i. e., the shaping instrumentality or die comprised in the mandrel is `within the cap and supports the interior wall of the skirt and the thread. This method is to be distinguished from methods heretofore disclosed in which endwise lpressure is exerted upon a cap skirt having a thread, partially formed, but without internal support for the thread. In the present method the thread is internally slipported during the application of endwise pressure and thereb the desired predetermined cross-sectiona? shape of the thread is insured, and any tendency .toward collapse which might result'from endwise pressure at any point of the thread is prevented.

It is believed that the construction of the machine has now been suliciently described and to indicate briefly its operation, the cap blanks are stamped in the usualmachine and automatically fed to the gravity chute 26, whence a cap is held at the inclined mouth thereof by the finger or lever 37, which projects suciently far into the cap path to act as a stop.

Power having been imparted to the shaft 90, the gear 18 is caused to rotate and a mandrel displaces the disc 31, thereby retracting the finger or stop 37, permitting the cap to; slide out of the mouth 40 and tilt to be caught' by and seated upon the adjacent mandrel l again thrown to stop position and the lever 33 mandrel, is carried in a circular direction by the carriage or gear 18 and caused to rotate by reason of the engagement of the gear with the Sun gear 18.

In the first segment the-cap is firmly held by the knurled portion of the mandrel and the roughened portionV of the fixed segmental die member, at the same time the other fixed segmental die member cooperating with a die member on the mandrel to produce the curl shown in Figure 110. That is to say, the 'fiange of the blank is partially curled during its bodily movement and rotational movement alon the `fixed path of travel in contact with the rst segment. 4

As hereinbefore stated, the cap makes a complete revolution during its traverse of the -first segment, so that this curl is coinpleted as the cap enters the second segment,

-as shown in Figure 10 at 47. In the second segment, the curl is finished to produce a wired ed c, while similarly held by the roughened xed segmental die member and the knurled head of the mandrel, as shown at 48, in Figure 10. Thus during its bodily and rotational movement past the second segn ment, the flange, as shown in Figure 10, is

com letely curled.

e cap having the completely formed curled or beaded edge continues its bodily movement' in a predetermined path and its simultaneous rotational movement to form a knurl at the upper portion of the cap skirt. At the same time, the thread is formed through cooperation of the respective dies on the mandrel and on the fixedsegment 55 and it will be observed thatthis thread is produced b a folding and bending of thematerial o the skirt blank andthat the cap is supported for this free shrinking throughout its movement in the thread forming segment,

so that by no possibility is the metal stretched or distended during the forming of thethread. In other words, the thickness of the material remains uniform throughout 'the skirt and thread portions, eliminating any sources of weakness or thin areas which would produce cracking or which would mar a finished cap. v. v

At this point, it 'should be stated that the cap may be finished before its introduction into the machine as by a lacquer coating, a lithograph finish, printing or any of the other usual methods of decoration or ornamentation and that in passing through the machine,

this finish is not interfered with.

In the thread forming segment, it will be observed that since free shrinking is permitted at all times, i t is possible to produce a relatively deeper thread than has heretofore been possible and without stretching the metactual use, permits the thread to engage well'under theledge of the container thread.

As the completed cap passes into the cap removin zone the lifting mechanism associated with each mandrel is operated to raise the cap and deposit it upon the shaft 76, whereupon it is attracted by its top or closed end tothe transfer wheel and deposited with its open end exposed to a chute from which it is passed to the conveyor 87 with its open end in position to receive the usual liner, which is automatically applied, without further manipulation, and the 'finished articles delivered automatically to a shipping packa e.

gIt will be observed that the operation of the apparatus from the blank forming to the packa ing is entirely automatic and the action o the respective parts is so timed that the feed, the forming of the completed article and the removal can be carried on consecutively permitting production of the finished articles in tremendous quantities and with great speed. This is accom lished, of course, by varying the gear ratio o the planetar gearing construction disclosed and contro ing the feed of blanks from the blank forming machine.

The gear 91 may be provided with an integral hub 10() carryin a shear pin 101, which engages the gear 91, t e latter being loosely disposed on the shaft 90. In this manner, should the machine jam Afor any reason, the

shear pin will break and so disconnect the` ing operations. so that the metal of the blank 4 is free 'to conform to the progressive action of the dies, and without objectionable strain upon or stretching of the metal, assuring that the completed cap will be free of weakened areas. In thisV manner, cracking of the cap material will be avoidedand lithographed" or otherwise finished or coated blanks can be safely passed through the machine Without fear of marring the finish.

Further. it will be notedrthat the gear 18 carrying the mandrels is adapted to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction in forming 4the cap, and that the thread is produced progressively downward of the skirt as shown in Figures 2, 4 and 6 permitting free shrinkage 55 if any, for twisting,

of the skirt .without stretching or distending the. metal.

In Fi re 13, I have illustrated in detail the mem er 95t This member, as shown, is provided with the shortinclined portion 96 which engages and pushes the wired edge up simultaneousl with the engagement of the shell by the t read forming dies. Thus the shrinking or folding of the shell to form the 10 thread is assisted positively.

The member 95 extends the length of the thread forming segment or die 55 and its upper edge is straight for the major ortion of its length to act substantiall as t e bottom or one wall of the die pro ucing a uniform shrinkage.

In Figure 12, I have shown the ori 'nal hat-shaped shell 4or blank in broken 'nes and the final complete cap in full lines indicating the extent of the shrinkage off the cap. The original blank as shown has a Hange and a skirt and the final article is formed with a knurled portion at its top and abeaded edge at the other end, and intermediate the'beaded edge and the knurled portion'is disposed a ocontinuous or spiral thread( 1 Referring to Figure 3, of the drawingsg attention is called to the position of the Sun gear 17, the rotary gear 18 and the mandrel l supporting stem 23 with its associated parts.

By the present construction, only a minimum amount of the stem is exposed above its bearilg to support the shell or blank and the rotary gear is of lar e diameter and mounted upon a-` large bearln 15 relatively close to the stem 23 and its caring. Furthermore, the gear 25 being located below the large-gear 18 to engage the Sun7 gear 17, which is likewise dis osed below the large gear an tendency caused) by the inter-engagement oiy'the die members to rock the stem 23 is eii'ectively prevented and likewise by reason of the mounting of the large gear such rocking or bending will be absorbed without causing wear upon the parts.'

With the present invention, wherein the Sun gear is disposed below or at one side of the large gear and the die members above the large gear with the large gear rotating upon a broad bearing close to the bearing for the stem 23 twisting or bending of the stem 23 is substantially reduced and absorbed and there is but little opportunity,

bending or wear to occur between the rotating gear and its'bearing. In this manner, there is produceda very uniform article, since the position of the stem 23' f and its associated' die member will always co remain accurate with respect tothe fixed die members or segments.

It will also be observed upon reference to Figure 3 that the Sun gear 17 and the gear 25 are protected and shielded from any metal or other particles which may be thrown oif however, Y

from the ca blank during its rotation on the mandrels alibut the segments.

What I claim is:

' 1. The method of making in a single operation curled edge screw caps having aI skirt formed with` a curled ed e and a continuous thread above the curled e ge which comprises imparting simultaneously both a bodily movement alonga predetermined path and rotational movements to a plurality of hatshaped blanks, each having a skirt and a Han e, and during said movements in' imme lately successive steps forming the Hange into a curled edge and bending the blank skirt to form a continuous thread while leav 'ing the end of the skirt free topermit free shrinkage of the material of the skirt.

2. The method of making in a single operai tion curled edge screw caps having a skirt formed with a curled ed e and a continuous thread above the curled edge which comprises imparting simultaneously both a bodily movement along a predetermined path and rotational movements to a plurality of hatshaped blanks, each having a skirt and a Hange, and during said movements in immediately successive ste s forming the Hange into a curled edge and t en bending the blank skirt to form a continuous thread while leav ing the curled ed e free to permit free shrinkage of the material of the skirt.

3. The method of making in a single operation curled edge screw caps having a skirt formed with a curled ed e and a continuous thread above the curled edge which comprises imparting 4simultaneously both a bodily movement along a predetermined path and rotational movements to a plurality of hatshaped blanks, each having a skirtand a Hangs, and during said movements in immediately successive steps forming the Hange into a curled edge and bending the blank skirt to form a continuous thread while leaving the end of the skirt free to permit free shrinkage of the material of the skirt and during one of said stepsknurling the skirt.

4. The method of making in a single operation curled edge `screw caps having a skirt formed with a curled ed e and a continuous thread above the curled e ge which comprises imparting simultaneously both a bodily movement along a predetermined path and rotational movements to a plurality of hatshaped blanks, each having a 4skirt and a flange, and during said movementsin immediately successivesteps forming the Hange into a curled edge and bending the blank skirt to end of the skirt free to permit free shrinkage of the material of the sln'rt and during said thread forming step knurling the skirt.

orm a continuous thread while leaving the 5. The method of making in a single opera- A tin curled edge screw caps having a skirt formed with a curled edge and a continuous thread which comprises imparting simultaneously both a bodil movement alonga predetermined path an rotational movements to a pluralit of hat-shaped blanks, each having a skirt an a Bange, and during said movements in immediately successive steps forming the als into a curled edge and ,bending the. bla

ously both a bodil movement along a predetermined path an .rotational movements to a plurality of hat-shaped blanks, each having a skirt and a Bange, and during said movebending the' ments in immediately successive steps forming the Bange into a curled edge and then lank skirt to form a continuous threadwhile rmittmgfree r ofthe naterial of e slirt and during sa thleai ormin stepa pying ressureto` een o the ski to asslist the shrinking action.

7. The method of making in a single peration curled edge screw caps having aJ skirt formed with a curled edgev and a continuous thread which comprises imparting simultaneously both a bodily movementalong a predetermined ath and rotational movements to a plurality o hat-shaped blanks, each having a skirt and a Bange, and during said movements in immediately successive steps forming the Bange into a curled edge and bending the blank skirt to form a continuous thread while permitting free shrinkage of the material of the skirt, during one of said steps knurling the skirt, vand during said thread forming step applying pressure to the end of the skirt to Vassrsht the sllllodrinlnnf' g action.

8. e met o makin' gin a operation curled edge screw caps hasdg a skirt formed with a curled edge and a continuous thread which comprises imparting simultaneously both a bodily movement along a predetermined path and rotational movements to a plurality of hat-shaped blanks, each having a skirt and a Bange, and during said movements in immediately successive steps forming the Bange into a curled edge and bending the blank skirt to form a continuous thread while permitting free shrinkage of the material of the skirt, during said thread forming step knurling the skirt, and during said thread forming step applying pressure to the end of the skirt to assist the shrinking action.

9. The method of making in a single operation curled edge screw caps having a skirt formed with a wire edge and a continuous thread above the curled edge which comprises a bodily movement imparting simultaneously d an eccentric rotaaloug a pretermined pat tional movements to a plurality of hat-shaped blanks, eachnhaving a skirt and a i and during saidmovements and y successive steps forming the Bange into a curled edge and bending the4 skirt to form af movements, each of said blanks having a skirt and Bange and during said movements in immediately successive steps formingbthe Bange into a curled edge and bending the V lank skirt to form a continuous thread while free shrinkage of the material o the skirt, and inverting the caps as formed to a position to receive a liner. l11. That improvement in .the art of maka screw cap having: spirally threaded skirt which consists in n formin a vscrew-thread therein by' means which orms and fits into the spially formed thread and assisting the thread-forming 'operation and reducing the height of the skirt by exerting endwise pressure upon the end of dingthesku'tand' the skirt, while the means 1s within the threads andas the spiral thread is formed by said means.

12. The method of makin a screw ca having a skirt provided with a read whic consists in supporjdng the cap from within and imparting a b y movement and simultaneous rotational movementto the c ap along a predetermined path, forming a thread dur-l ing such bodily and rotational movement, and exertin endwise pressure upon the end of the skirt w le the cap is thus supgorted.

- 13. The method of makin om a cupped blank a screw cap having a a continuous thread which imparting simultaneously both ab Ily movement along a predetermined path and rotational movements to a plurality of cu ped blanks, and during said movements ben ing the skirt and forming'progressively and continuously ing at one end and finishing at the other the entire of a continuous thread in the skirt along the entire formed thread' from the u per portion of the skirt toward the free e e thereof.

14. emethod of makin 'from a cupped blank a screw cap having a rt formed with a continuous thread which com rises imparting simultaneously both a bo ily movement along a predetermined path and rotational movements to a plurality of cu ped blanks, and during said movement ben mg the skirt and forming progressively and continuously beginning at one end and inishin at the other the entire of alcontinuous t read in the skirt along the entire formed thread from the up r portion of the skirt toward the free e ge thereof while leaving the end of the skirt during the forming operation free to permit free shrinkage'of the material of the skirt.

15. The method of making curled edge screw ca s having a skirt formed with a curled edlge and a continuous thread in the skirt above the curled edge which comprises imparting simultaneously both a bodily movement along a predetermined path and rotational movements to a plurality of cupped blanks, and during said movements forming a curled "edge and then bending said skirt and forming progressively and continuously beginnin at one end and finishing at the other the entlre of a continuous thread in the skirt along the entire formed line of helix from the upper portion of the skirt toward the free edge. i

16. The method of making curled edge screw ca s having a skirt 'formed with a curled e ge and a continuous thread in the skirt above the curled ed e imparting simultaneousy both a bodily movement along a predetermined path and Vrotational movements to a plurality of cupped blanks, and during said movements formin said skirt and forming progressively and continuously beginning at one end and finishing at the other the entire of a continuous thread in the skirt along the entire formed line of helix from theuppeiportion of the skirt toward the free edge while leaving the curled end of the skirt free to permit free shrinkage of the material of the skirt during the thread-formin o eration.

17. A n apparatus 0% t le class described comprising afeeding mechanism for cupped cap blanks, a rotary mandrel supporting` carriage, individually rotating mandrels thereon for receiving a blank, 4die sections cooperating with said mandrels to form in 'sequence a curled edge and continuously and progressively beginning at one end and iinishing at the other the entire of a continuousthread in the skirt of the blank above the curled edge, means for rotating the mandrel supporting carria past the die sections, means for rotating the. mandrels to cause each mandrel to perform at least one complete rotation during the traverse of the carriage past each die section, and automatic means for lifting the cap from a mandrel. s

18. An apparatus of the class described comprising a feeding mechanism for cupped cap blanks, a rotary mandrel supporting carriage, rotating mandrels thereon for receiving a blank, die sections cooperating with said mandrels to form a continuous-thread which comprises a. curled edge and then bending cap from the blank, means for rotating the mandrel supporting carriage past the` die sections, means for `rotating the mandrels to cause each mandrel to per orm at least one complete rptation during the traverse of the carnage t t each die' section, and means on the man and die sections for forming the cap witha curled edge and thereafter with a threadand a knurled ortion and permitting the blank skirt to s rink freely during production of the thread.

19. An apparatus of the class described com rising a feeding mechanism for cap blan s, a rotary mandrel supporting carriage, rotatin mandrels thereon for receiving a cu ped lank, die sections cooperating with said mandrels to form a continuousthread cap from the blank, means forr ro.- tating the mandrel sup orting carriage past the die sections, means or rotating the mandrels to cause each mandrel to perform at least one complete rotation during the traverse' of the carriage past each die section, one of said'sections having means for curling the free end of the blank and for holding the blank fixed against all but rotary motion on said mandrel, and a second section having means for simultaneously knurling the blank and forming the same with a continuous-thread above said curled end', said past thedie sections, means for rotating themandrels to cause each mandrel to perform at least one complete rotation during the traverse of the carriage past each `die section, and means on they mandrels and die sections for forming the cap with a curled edge and thereafter with a continuous thread and a knurled portion, said last-mentioned means lpermitting the blank skirt to shrink freely during the production of the thread. f

21. 'A cap forming machine comprising a movable carriage, a plurality of cap m drels on said carriage and means associr als'` with said carriage for forming a cap during d the movement o said carriage and means for removing a cap. from the carriage upon the completion of the forming operation, .said

last mentioned means comprising movable Y members disposedV at the sides of each of said mandrels, means for raising and lowering th-TL members, said members upon initially engag-l 'ing said means' rising to receive and carry a 'pio cap free of the lcarriage and means acting to `lower the members and deposit the cap in a position to becollected.

22. A machine of the class described com' risin a base having ai peripheral bearing iemegmbers on the base at one side, a xed ear on the base at the opposite side, a maiv rel supporting carriage of substantiallyy ring-form rotatably. mounted on the peripheral bearin of the.- base and havin a substantially oused bearin therein tween said die members and said gear, a mandrel rotatably su, portedvonthe carriage, one end n the ca'rria position.'

of the man rel having a die member coopv erat with-the die member onthe Jbase and the o er end having a gear'engagmg withl the gear on the base to rotate t e mandrel,

i'- said, carriage bearing on the base being sub closerto the mandrelfbearin in than tothe cente'r of said ase, e strain upon the mandrel is disstantially whereby tributed upon opposite sides of the carriage l to maintain the' mandrelin properv aligned riage if-substantially ring-form rotatably mounted on the large bearin on the base and substantially housed within the confines `tlnareirf between said die member and said r, a bearing on the carriage, a mandrel shaft rotatably mounted in said'l bearing on the carriage relatively closeto the bearing of the car'i'ia e on the base, lsaid mandrel shaft having at one end a die member cooperating with the die memberon the base and at the other end a gear engaging the gear on the base torotate the mandrel, said carriage bearing being disosed substantially closerto the mandrel sha ,bearing in the carriage than to the center of the base, whereby strain upon the mandrel due to inter-en gement of said dies will be absorbed by t e large bearing for the carria e and said iixedgear. j 'i 24. A' mac ine for manufacturin screw capshaving a skirt formed with a cur d edge and a continuous thread above the curled edge, comprising means for moving simultaneously-s oth bodil along a predetermined path and rotations, ly a plurality of hata skirt and a flange, means eli'eotive during said movementsfor forming thelange into a curled edge, and means operative immediately in `succession to ,said curling Y means and durinsaid movements to form a continuous-three in the skirt, said last-mentioned .means comprising a-section over which the blank is ro- 'tated and havin a single projecting thread fol-min Ytrack t ereon. 25. l machine for 'manufacturin screw caps having a skirt foi-med with a cur ed edge and a continuous-thread above the curled edge com rising `means for moving simultaneously th bodil along a predetermined path. and otationa lya plurality Cif-hat-V shaped blanks,y each having a skirt` and a liange, means elfective during said movements for forming the flange into a curled edge, means operative immediately in succession to said curling means and during said movements to Vform a continuous-thread in 'the skirt, said last-mentioned means comprising a' section o ver which the blank is rotated and havin 'pro`ecting means for forming continuous an progressively beginning at Vone end 'an -finishing at the other the entire of the formed continuous thread, and means for knurling the skirt above the thread.

26; A machine for manuacturin caps having a Skirt formed with acur ed edge and a; continuous-thread above 'the curled edge comprising means for moving simultal 'neously both bodily'along a predetermined path andv rotationally a plurality of hatshaped blanks, each having a skirt anda flange, means effective duringsaid movementsfor forming the flange into a curled' edge, 4means operative immediately in succession to said curling means and during said movements to form a continuous thread in the skirt, said last-mentioned means comprising a section over which the blank is rotated and' having means for formin' gressively ning -`at-one end and finish ing at the ot er the entire 'of a continuousthread while permitting throughout said operation the curled skirt to shrink freely,` and pro# e screw means operativel simultaneoslly, with said thread forming means for knur above the thread. L 27, A* machine for manufacturing screw caps bavingaskirt formed with a clirled edge and a continuous-thread above the curled g the skirt edge comprising means for movi -s'imultavneously both -bodily. along a pre etermined path and rotationally a plurality of hatshaped blanks, each having a skirt' and a ilange,.means effective during said movements for forming the, flange into a curled Y edge, and means operative immediately in succession to said curling means and during said movements to form a continuous-thread in the skirt while maintaining the curled end of the 'skirtfree to ermit free shrinkage of the material of the s irt during the forming of thethreadf.

2 8. A machine for Amanufacturin screw caps having a skirt formed with a cur ed edge and a'continuous-threadabove the curled edge comprising means for moving simultaneously both bodily along a predetermined path and rota'itionally a plurality of hat-A shaped blanks each having a skirt and a flange, means ed'ective during said movements iso said curling means and during said movements to firm a continuous-thread in the skirt, while maintaining the.curled end of the skirt free to permit free shrinkage of the material of the skirt during the formin of the thread, and means foiknu'rling the s irt above the thread;A i

`29. A machine for manufacturing screw caps having a skirty formed with a curled edge and a continuous-thread above the curled edge comprising means for moving simultaneously both bodily along a predetermined path and rotationally a plurality of hatshaped banks, each having a skirt and a flange, means eifective during said movements for forming the flange into a curled edge. means operative immediately in succession to said curling meansand durin said movements to form a continuous-thread in the skirt while maintaining the curled end of the skirt free to permit free shrinkage of thematerial of the skirt during the forming of vthe y thread, and means operative simultaneously with the thread orminglmeans for kniirling the skirt above the thread.` A

30. Ay machine for manufacturing screw caps having a skirt formed with 'a curled edge and a continuous threadl above the curled :.edge'comprising means for moving simultaneoiisly both bodily along V`a predetermined f path andarotationally a plurality ofA hatshaped banks, each having a skirt and a flange, means effective during -said movements for forming the flange-into a curled edge, means operative immediately "in succession to said curling means andduringsaid movements to form a continuous-thread in the skirt,A and means for exerting endwise pressure on the skirt during the formation of the thread. .Y

3l. In a machine for manufacturing Screw `c aps having a skirt provided with a thread,

means for supporting and rotating a blank having a. de )ending skirt, means for forming and fitting` intol a spiral thread in the blank skirt, and means for assisting the forming means in the thread-forming by exerting endl wise pressure upon the end of theskirt and reducing the heightof the skirt while the' said 'foriningineans is within the thread.

y32. In a machine for manufacturing screw caps having a skirt `provided with a-thread,

.means for supporting and rotating a blank having a depending skirt, means for forming and fitting into a spiral thread in the blank skirt, andY means for assisting the formin means in the thread-forming by exertingen Wise pressure upon the skirt and reducing the height of the skirt while the said forming means iswithin the'thread, and as the spiral `thread is formed by saidforming means.

33. 4In a machine for manufacturing screw caps having a skirt formed with aeontinuous thread, means for supporting from within a cap blank; having a depending skirt, means for imparting simultaneousl bodily and rotational movements to the b ank means for forming a thread in the skirt during said movements, said last mentioned mean-s including a die which fits into| and conforms to the thread, and means forassisting the diein the thread-forming by exerting endmovements, said last mentioned means' i including a die which lits into and conforms to the thread, and means for assisting'the die and rotational movements tothe blan means for forming a thread in the skirt during said movements, means for curlingthe edge of the tskirt -durin Isaid movements, and means lfor automatica Vy removin `the cap from said supporting `means at t e end of its bodily movement and 'turning the cap as formed to a position with its skirt upwardly directed whereby to receive a liner. l i

36. In a machine for manufacturing screw caps having a skirt formed with a continuous thread, means for supporting from within a cap blank having a dependin' skirt, means for imparting simultaneously odilyandro tational movements to the blank `means for. forming athread in the skirt tiring said `means-in `forming the thread by exerting endmovements, means for curling the edge of the skirt during said movements, and means for automatica ly removingthe cap Ifrom said supprting means at -the end of its bodily movement and turning the cap as formed to a position with its skirt upwardly-,directed whereb to receive a liner, Said last named' means including a magnetic pick-up mecha- IliSm.'

37. r In a machine for manufacturing screw capshaving a skirt'formed with 'a continuous iis izo

thread, means for sulpporting from` within a cap 'blank having a epending skirt, means ,for imparting simultaneously bodily an'd ro- 'tational movements to the blank, means for forminga thread in the 4skirt during said movements, means for curling theV edge of the skirt durin said movements, and means'or automatica ly removing the cap 4from said position with its skirt upwardl supporting means at the end of its bodily movement and turning the cap as formed to a directed whereby to receive a liner, said ast-named means including a magnetic pick-u mechanism comprising a rotary wheel a a ted to carry said cap t roufrh an arcuate pat 38. In a machine for manufacturing screw caps having a skirt formed with a continuous thread, means for supporting from within a cap blank having a dependin skirt, means for imparting simultaneously odily and rotational movements vto the blank, means for forming a thread in the skirt during said movements, means for curling the edge of the skirt during said movements, and means for automatically removin the cap from said supporting means at t e end of its bodily movement and turning the cap as formed to a position with its skirt upwardl directed whereby to receive a liner, said ast-named means including a magnetic pick-up mechanism comdprising a rotary wheel adapted to carry sai cap through'an arcuate path and a chute into which said wheel discharges the turned ca 39. A machine for manufacturing screw caps having a skirt formed with a curled edge and a continuous thread above the curled ed e comprising die means for moving simu taneously both bodily along the predetermined path and rotationally aplu'- rality of hat-shaped blanks, each having a skirt and a flange, fixed die means alon said path for cooperating with said movab e die means, said means effective durin relative movement thereof for forming gie Harige into a curled edge and o erative immediately in succession to sai curlin operation and during said movement to orm a continuous thread in the skirt, and means for exerting endwisc ressur upon the free edge of the cap and re ucing the height of the cap skirt.

40. In a machine for manufacturing screw caps having a skirt formed with a curled edge and a continuous thread above the curled edge comprising die means for moving simultaneously both bodily alon a predetermined path and rotationally a p urality of hat-shaped blanks, each having a skirt and a flange, fixed die means along said path for cooperating with said movable die means, said means effective during relative movement thereof for forming the flange into a curled edge and operative immediately in succession to said curling operation and during said movement to form a continuous thread in the skirt, and means operating simultaneously with said thread-forming means for exerting endwise pressure upon the free edge of the cap.

41. A machine for manufacturing screw caps having a skirt formed with a curled edge and a continuous thread above the curled edge comprisingl die meins for moving simultaneous y bot bodily along a predetermined path and rotationally a p ura. ity of hat-shaped blanks, each having a. skirt and a flange, fixed die means along said path for cooperatin with said movable die means, said means e ective durin relative movement thereof for` forming t e ian e into a curled edge and operative immediately in succession to said curling operation and during. said movement to form a continuous thread in the skirt, automatic means for removing the completed cap from the machine and a rotary pick-up member cooperating with said last means to dispose the cap in position to receive a liner.

42. In a machine for manufacturing caps, means for supporting a plurality of skirted cap blanks each having a flange at the end of the skirt, means for moving said blanks bodily along a predetermined path and for imparting rotational movement to said blanks during said bodil movement, means for bending each cap ange during said movements to form a curled edge and means for removing the caps as formed at the end of said path, saidlast-mentioned means comprising a rotatin wheel disposed at one'side of the plane o bodil movement of the blanks and havin ho ding means associated therewith, said-wheel bein rotatable on anaxis disposed at substantie, ly a ri ht angle tothe axes of rotation of said blan s.

43. In a machine for manufacturin caps, means for supportin a plurality of s 'rted cap blanks, means or moving said blanks Ibodily along a predetermined path and for imparting, rotational movement to said blanks during said bodily movement, means for bending each cap skirt during said movements and forming ca retaining means on the skirt, and means or removing the caps as formed at the end of said path, said lastmentioned means comprisin a rotating wheel disposed on one side o the lane .o bodily movement of the blanks an having magnetic holding means associated therewit 44. In a machine for manufacturin caps means for supporting a plurality of cap blanks, means for moving said blanks bodily along a predetermined path and for imparting rotational movement to said blanks during said bodily movement, means for bending each cap to form a curled edge thereon during said movements, and means for removing the caps as formed at the end of said path, said last-mentioned means comprising a rotating wheel disposed above the plane of bodily movement of said blanks on an axis substantially perpendicular to the axes of rotation of said blanks and having holding means associated therewith and a conveyor associated with said wheel adapted to convey the formed caps therefrom.

45. In a machine for manufacturn caps means for supportin a plurality of iirted cap blanks,` means or moving said blanks bodily along a predetermined path and for imparting rotational movement to said blanks during said bodily movement, means for bending each cap during said bodily movement to form a curled ed e, and means for removin the caps as forme at the end of said path, sai

ast-mentioned means comprising a rotating wheel having magnetic holding means associated therewith and a conveyor associated with said wheel adapted to convey the formed caps therefrom.

46. A machine for manufacturing screw caps comprising means for moving simultaneously both bodily along a redetermined path and rotationally a plurality of cupped lanks each having a skirt, and means operative during said movements to form a continuous screw-threaded in said blank skirt, said last-mentioned means comprising a die over which the blanks are rotated in their bodily movement and having a single projecting screw-thread-forming track adapted to form the entire screw-threaded progressively and continuously both circumferentiallyA and lengthwise of the skirt as the cap is rotated.

4 A machine for manufacturing screw caps com risi means for moving simultaneously bot bodl along a predetermined path and rotational y a luralit of cupped blanks each having a s irt, an means operative during said movements to form a continuous screw-thread in said blank skirt, said last-mentioned means comprising a die over which the blanks are rotated in their bodily movement and having a sin le projecting screw-thread-forming track a apted to form the entire thread progressively and continuously both circumferentially of the skirt and from the top of the cap blank toward the free edge of the skirt.

48. A machine for manufacturing screw :aps comprisin means for moving simultaneously both bodi y along a predetermined path and rotationally a plurality of cupped blanks each having a s drt, and means operative during said movements to form a continuous screw-thread in said blank skirt, said lastmentioned means comprisin a die over which the blanks are rotated an having a single projecting screw-thread forming track adapted to form the entire screw-thread progresaively and continuously, as the cap is rotated, both circumferentially of the skirt and from the top of the ca'p blank toward the free edge of the skirt, sai two means being disposed to permit the cap skirt to shrink freely in height durin the thread forming operation.

49. A mac ine for manufacturing screw caps having a skirt formed with a curled edge, and a continuous thread above the curled edge comprising means for moving simultaneously both bodily along a predetermined path and rotationally a plurality of hat-shaped blanks, each having a skirt and a ange, means eiective during said movements for forming the flange into a curled edge, and means operative immediately in succession to said curling means and durin said movements to form a continuous threa in the skirt while maintaining the curled end of the skirt free to permit free shrinkage of the material of the skirt during the forming of the thread, said lastmentioned means comprising a die section over which the cap blank is rotated and having a single pro'ectin thread-forming track thereon adapte to Form the entire of the thread continuously and pro essively.

50. A machine for manuga-lcturin screw caps having a skirt formed with a cur ed edge anda continuous thread above the curled ed e comprising means for moving simultaneous y both bodily along a predetermined path and rotationally a lurality of hat-shaped blanks each having a skirt and a flange, means operative during said movements to form a continuous thread in the skirt, said means comprising a die section over which the blank is rotated during said movements and having a single projecting thread-forming trac thereon adapted to continuously and progressively form the entire of the thread, and means operative during said movements for forming the Hange into a curled edge, said threading and curling means being operative immediately in succession. 1

51. A machine for manufacturing screw caps having a skirt formed with a curled edge and a continuous thread above the curled edge comprising means for moving simultaneously both bodily along a predetermined path and rotationally a plurality of hat shaped blanks, each having a skirt and a fiange, means operative during said movements to form a continuous thread in the skirt, said means comprising a die section over which the blank is rotated during said movements and having a single rojecting threadforming track thereon a apted to continuously and progressively form the entire of the thread, and means operative during said movements for forming the fiange into a curled edge, said threading and curling means being operative immediately in succession and the curlin means being disposed in advance of the t reading means.

52. In a machine for manufacturing screw caps from cupped blanks, a movable carriage having a lurality of individually rotatable blank holding mandrels, means for individually rotating the mandrels during the movement of the carriage, a fixed screw-thread forming die section over which the blanks are rotated a complete revolution in the movement of the carriage and mandrels, and a single projecting screw-thread forming track on said section for forming continuously and progressively the entire of a continuous ICI) 

